UNISON Health group votes for summer demo

NHS demonstration March 3rd 2007, photo Paul Mattsson

THE CONTINUING protests against the savage attacks on the NHS show that there is still massive anger about what New Labour are doing to the national health service. Now the unions seem to be responding belatedly to the pressure from below.

The March newsletter from UNISON's Healthcare Service Group announced that their group executive committee has voted for a national demonstration in response to "the escalating attacks which threaten the very existence of the NHS". This confirmation of the Healthcare service group's decision is good news.

A resolution from the National Pensioners Convention that was read out and passed at 3 March protest rallies across Britain had called on all those supporting that day of action to "unite in a national march in Central London on a Saturday in June to mark the anniversary of the 1946 Health Service Act with the aim: save our NHS."

NHS demonstration March 3rd 2007, photo Paul Mattsson

UNISON Healthcare says that their union's national executive council will shortly decide on the exact date and place of the demonstration in June or July.

UNISON members must make sure that the union leadership keep their word. Workers and service users need a nationally coordinated struggle to be waged to turn back the deluge of cuts, closures and privatisation that threaten the NHS.

Regardless of whether the UNISON demonstration call is made concrete in the next few weeks, the PUSH (People United Saving Hospitals) meeting in Coventry on 31 March is vital in building up the campaign.

NHS trade union activists and campaigners against health cuts should make sure they get delegated to attend.